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There is a legend that in Adachigahara, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, there was a demon hag who attacked travelers
The story is famous throughout the country, and has been adapted into Kabuki and Bunraku puppet theater plays under the name "Oshu Adachigahara,"Noh plays under the name "Kurozuka."
This time, I delved into the legend of the demon hag of Adachigahara (Kurozuka) and went to the site to look for traces of it
The legend of the demon hag of Adachihara (Kurozuka)
There seem to be several versions of the legend with slight differences in the details, but the story passed down at Kanzeji Temple in Adachigahara, Nihonmatsu City, goes as follows:
The legend of the demon hag of Adachihara (Kurozuka)
there was an old woman named Iwate who worked as a wet nurse in a mansion in Kyoto
The princess of the mansion, whom Iwate had lovingly raised, was unable to speak no matter how much she grew up, and no matter how many times she was examined by a doctor, her condition showed no signs of improvement.So she went to see a fortune teller, who told her that she would be cured if she drank the liver of a baby inside a pregnant woman
So Iwate leaves Kyoto and travels to Oshu to obtain the gallbladder, and when he arrives on the banks of the Abukuma River, he finds a cave that is just right for sheltering from the wind and rain and settles down there.
One evening in late autumn, , Ikomanosuke and Koiginu, come to visit.
The couple was having trouble finding a place to stay, and the wife was very pregnant. Iwate saw this as an opportunity and decided to let them stay
That night, Koigoromo suddenly went into labor and complained of abdominal pain, and in a panic, Ikomanosuke rushed out to look for medicine, while Iwate took the opportunity to cut Koigoromo's stomach open with a kitchen knife
As Koigoromo was dying, she told Iwate that she was searching for her mother, who was separated from her in Kyoto, and then
So Iwate searches Koiori's belongings and finds a lucky charm bag. When Iwate opens it, he is shocked to discover that the Koiori he had just killed was his long-lost daughter. Having killed his daughter and granddaughter with his own hands, Iwate goes mad with grief and pain and turns into a demon.
"Kurozuka" from Toriyama Sekien's "Illustrated Night Parade of One Hundred Demons" Source: Wikipedia
After that, Iwate began to steal money and valuables from travelers, kill them, suck their blood, and eat their flesh, and she was the "Demon Hag of Adachi-ga-hara (Kurozuka) ." However, because this happened in Oshu, far from the capital, no one blamed her.
Tokobo Yukei from Kumano, Kishu , visited Adachihara and asked to stay in Iwate for the night.
It was a cold night, so Iwate left the house to get some firewood, and made sure to tell Yukie that he must not open the back room
Yukie agreed to Iwate's words, but his curiosity got the better of him and he peeked into the room. There he saw a mountain of blood-stained corpses and decaying human bones. the old woman was the legendary "Demon Hag of Adachi-ga-hara (Kurozuka)" and panicked, running out of the house without even getting ready. However, when Iwate returned and realised the situation, he chased after Yukie.
Having been caught up, Yukie finds himself facing off against Iwate
Nyoirin Kannon that he carried with him . The statue then rose into the sky, emitted a light, and nocked an arrow on its demon-repelling white bow, defeating the onibaba.
Reference: Mayumiyama Kanzeji Temple "Outline of the Oshu Adachigahara (Kurozuka) Legend" and others
Iwate killed his own daughter and granddaughter with his own hands. It's understandable that he would go mad
However, considering that he already intended to kill someone when he arrived at Adachigahara, perhaps he was a little twisted from the start..
I always thought the Onibaba was just a terrifying monster, but I had no idea there was such a sad story behind it... In the end, it's a story that shows that the truly scary ones aren't monsters, but humans... In terms of genre, a "human-centered horror story .
The place associated with the Onibaba legend
, there are many historical sites in Adachi-ga-hara the "demon hag legend" is a true story
Mayumizan Kanzeji Temple
The entrance to Kanzeji Temple
The cave where the onibaba is said to have lived still remains, and Kanzeji Temple stands on the site, including the cave.
This is a historic temple that has been in operation since the Nara period, and in the Edo period, Matsuo Basho visited the temple to pray while on his journey through the Narrow Road to the Deep North, and in the Meiji period, Masaoka Shiki visited the temple
Kanzeji Temple's Treasure Museum displays many historical documents related to the Onibaba
Among the exhibits are items such as "the ogre hag's knife," " the jar that held her liver," and "the hoe used to dig the hole when burying the ogre hag."
Kanzeji Temple (Nyoirin Kannon Hall)
hall enshrines Nyoirin Kannon Bodhisattva, who in the legend was used by Tokobo Yukei
Kanzeji Temple (the cave where the demon hag lived)
The cave is said to be where the demon hag lived. It certainly protects from the wind and rain and may be a good place for people to live. The large rocks give off a strange sense of power..
Within the grounds of Kanzeji Temple, there are many other sights to see, the "Oniba Stone Statue,"the "Basho Resting Stone" where Matsuo Basho is said to have sat and rested, and the "Deba Washing Pond."
Kanzeji Temple <Information>
Name: Tendai Sect Mayumizan Kanzeji Temple
Address: 4-126 Adachigahara, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, 964-0938
Kurozuka is the graveyard of an onibaba who was defeated by the power of Tokobo Yukei . It's only a 2-3 minute walk from Kanze-ji Temple, so if you've come all the way there, it's definitely worth a visit!
Kurozuka sign
As soon as you leave Kanzeji Temple, you will see a guide sign right in front of you
Kurozuka's Lone Cedar
As soon as you climb the bank of the Abukuma River, you will see a lone cedar tree looking down on the riverbank. At the base of this cedar is a black mound
Kurozuka stone monument
The Kurozuka stone monument. The fact that he is buried so close to the cave where he is said to have lived gives the legend a sense of reality
Kurozuka <Information>
Name: Kurozuka
Address: 4 Adachigahara, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, 964-0938
You can also purchase Onibaba merchandise at Adachihara Furusato Village!
The area around Kanzeji Temple "Adachigahara Furusato Village ." It's a combination of a roadside station, a kids' park, and a park, so you'll likely use this parking lot when sightseeing in the area.
Adachigahara Furusato Village Rural Life Center
The park has been relocated with old houses, samurai residences, and tea rooms, among which the Rural Life Hall, a two-story farmhouse that was relocated and reconstructed, is particularly impressive for its size.
Adachihara Furusato Village's Manjushage
In autumn, Lily Festival is held, when over 200,000 spider lilies (also known as red spider lilies) bloom in profusion
Onibaba goods
the Adachigahara Furusatokan on the premises , you can enjoy choosing delicious local vegetables, processed foods, sweets, and souvenirs. Onibaba goods are also on sale. Bappy-chan , which is based on the onibaba.
Adachigahara Furusato Village <Information>
Name: Adachigahara Hometown Village
Address: 100 Adachigahara 4-chome, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, 964-0938
In this article, we introduced the legend of the demon hag that is passed down in Adachi Plain, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
I was quite surprised to see so many traces of the Onibaba legend, which I thought was just a fairy tale. Before I visited, I just a fairy tale , but after seeing everything, I changed my mind and thought of it as a true, scary ghost story
Considering that the story has been passed down through the generations since ancient times and was known nationwide to the extent that Matsuo Basho visited during the Edo period and Masaoka Shiki during the Meiji period, does this seem credible?
This is a spot you should definitely stop by when you visit Nihonmatsu
Traveling around the Tohoku region, I enjoy drinking delicious sake and exploring the local history, traditions, and customs. I write articles based on my interests. I'm currently interested in folk performing arts, local toys, and folk beliefs
